Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-03
DIGGING AT THE DEBT
woEK OF THE COMMISSIONERS ON
YESTERDAY.
Debate in House Governors Reception
Visit Of Nessrs Thornton and Braith-
waite TO the Capitol.

Debate in House Governors Reception
Visit Of Nessrs. Thornton and Braith-
waite TO the Capitol.
Sir Edward Thornton and party and
Governor Lee attended divine service
at ST. Paul's church Sunday morning.
Ia the afternoon the distinguished
diplomat returned the calls of good
many people, and visited, among
others, Hon. L. l.. Lewis president Of
the Supreme Court of Appeals) and
wife. Sir Edward walked, and made
his way through the streets withoutany
guidance, having already mastered the
system Of honsc-numbering. He was
out on the same duty yesterday alter
noon. From the accounts given OF
him. the white side whiskers particu-
lsrly. he was generally recognized. He
usually wears a black silk hat and
! Mcadcloth clothes. He is about five
feet ten or eleven inches high. is quick
in all his movements, and walks with a
| good, swinging stride.
THE CoEFERREEs.
The Anglo Virginian debt commits
sioners met at the Allen house yester-
| dav morning, and had not adjourned
when, Just before II, Speaker Stuart
left themto 60 to the House to call it to
order.
The question OF paramount interest
was the amount of bonds represented
10y Messrs. Thornton and Braithwaite.
These gentlemen made an answer to
the committee on this point. but to
several of the Legislators the informa-
ton furnished appeared TO be unsatis-
tory, and they made 10 bones of saying
| so.
Soon after noon the cOnieTees adj
jOumcd to meet at u. Nj:
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The meeting Yesterday afternoon was
of the Legislative eOmmittee-the Eng
lshmcn were not present.
lhe members came forth from the
Allen house about 715 o'clock and
were all as dumb as oysters, and If
they were in high spirits they admirably
succeeded in Disgusting that fact.
The Dispatch can, however, state
with all the veracity of an official bulle-
tin that nothing was settled.
Messrs. Braithwaite and Thornton
were not on yesterday ready to answer
the questions persistently propounded
10y Messrs. Massey, Barbour, and Rhea as
to the amount of the Indebtedness re-
presented by them. The visitors stated
that they had not yet had time enough
either to meke proposition for a set
Element or to sum up the precise
amount of bonds for whose holders
they can speak according to the terms
Of tie credentials.
And here, it is said, the credentials
Of MesHs. Thornton and Braithwaite
as presented to the committee are not
the same as the letter which Sir Ed
ward brought to the Governor. This
letter is regarded by members Of the
General Assembly-a majority OF the
committee included-as unfortunate in
the language employed.
Speaker Stuart and Mr.. Figgat are
reported to have expressed the opinion
that it is not well at this moment to
press the Englishmen too hard. They
arc satisfied that Messrs. Thornton and
Rraithwaite are doing all that can be
expected of them, and that in a little
while the legislative committee will
have from the visitors a statement that
will be candid and clear.
1t is fact, however, that members
Of the two houses are getting very rest
less and impatient, and want to get
! through work and go home. After
this week most of them will have drawn
all the money due them, and their
longer stay will be Gas it appears to
them at their own expense.
SIR EDWARD KNOWS WHAT HE IS ABOUT.
Said a wcll.known Virginian yester-
day:
at is all nonsense to talk about
Thornton and Braithwaite not repre-
renting the English bondholders. Why
the council have for years been assess
ing the bondholders to carry on this
litigation. They have paid Mir. Royal
SO eco or $l2, 600 year, and he has
had costly lawyers to assist him al
times. They have employed Mr.. Cooper,
end now they send here Messrs. Thorn
ton. Braithwaite, and Bouvene at an
expense that no doubt foots up tens ol
thousands of dollars. 10 do all thi:
tlcv have to assess the bondholders. My
idea is that the English commissioners
have not vet disclosed the names OF
their clients and the number of bonds
they hold simply because they are moi
ready TO DO so they probably haven
vet cot the matter into 'shlp-shape.
I have no doubt they are daily cabling
TO England and daily writing to tho
New York and Baltimore brokers will
the view of accumulating as many
bonds in their clientage as possible
Why, sir, it is nonsense to suppose thai
a man Of Sir Edward Thornton s ability
and experience came over here simply
To tell us that he didn't know whom he
rcpresented or how many bonds ar.
| held bv the council or their patrons
| Pc patient for little while and yor
viii find that the conference Is a rea
business affair. "
THEY VISIT THE CAPITOL.
Mcssrs. Erathwaite and Bouverl'
were in the House occupying members
seats all the time that the discussion
was going ON about allowing member
of the committee to confer with othe
members of the General Assembly a
| to the debt proceedings. Mr.. Braith
vaite looks as if Inc might he forty